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Facts and figures on school district finances

Posted October 03, 2007 11:00 pm

GATEHOUSE EDITORS: For a complete list, see www.isbe.net/funding/pdf/gsa_comparison08.pdf

The higher foundation level embodied in the budget implementation bill, commonly known as a BIMP, is designed to counter negative state funding by keeping pressure on the state to continue spending more money on schools.

The state budget finalized in late August includes an additional $554 million for public schools. But even though the new budget authorizes the state to spend that money, the Illinois State Board of Education says it can't actually spend it until lawmakers also approve a separate measure known as a budget implementation bill. This bill, commonly known as a BIMP. would raise the foundation level - the minimum amount that a school must spend on each child, using state and local money - to $5,734 from $5,334.

The ISBE says it will continue using last year's foundation level of $5,334 until the law is changed. The BIMP cleared the Senate and is pending in the House. Another version of the BIMP is pending in the Senate. In fact, ISBE says state funding for schools will decrease unless the BIMP is approved, thanks to factors independent of the state budget. For instance, property values around Illinois are on the rise, meaning local property tax payers are contributing more to public schools and the state therefore must contribute less to keep schools spending at the same foundation level as last year.

Here is a look at the projected effect on local school districts. The chart shows each district's general state aid last year, followed by projected general state aid this year with the BIMP and general state aid without the BIMP.

General State Aid Last Year GSA No BIMP Difference GSA with BIMP Difference Peoria Dist. 150 $40,848,709 $36,989,329 -$3,859,380 $42,276,017 $1,427,308East Peoria Dist. 86 $2,276,995 $1,251,974 -$1,025,021 $1,959,686 -$317,309East Peoria Dist. 309 $1,814,532 $1,312,544 -$501,987 $1,764,304 -$50,227Peoria Heights Dist. 325 $1,399,918 $1,113,171 -$286,746 $1,428,487 $28,570 Springfield Dist. 186 $26,534,596 $24,298,367 -$2,236,229 $29,552,111 $3,017,515Ball Chatham Dist. 5 $7,776,480 $7,056,681 -$719,799 $8,642,057 $865,577Rochester Dist. 3A $5,434,735 $5,672,786 $238,051 $6,500,470 $1,065,735 Rockford Dist. 205 $61,671,397 $57,228,286 -$4,443,111 $67,270,650 $5,599,253Freeport Dist. 145 $13,046,414 $12,415,253 -$631,160 $14,017,301 $970,888 Lincoln Dist. 404 $2,089,235 $1,785,689 -$303,546 $2,124,073 $34,838Lincoln Dist. 27 $4,161,162 $3,923,658 -$237,504 $4,383,914 $222,752 Galesburg Dist. 205 $14,368,023 $14,239,189 -$128,834 $15,985,157 $1,617,134 Du Quoin Dist. 300 $6,101,502 $5,974,969 -$126,533 $6,547,205 $445,703 Frankfort Dist. 168 $7,856,303 $7,912,806 $56,503 $8,619,710 $763,407Frankfort Dist. 157C $770,361 $794,531 $24,170 $877,764 $107,403 Harrisburg Dist. 3 $8,655,551 $8,609,737 -$45,814 $9,398,529 $742,978 Kewanee Dist. 229 $7,788,686 $7,771,763 -$16,923 $8,436,667 $647,981 Macomb Dist. 185 $4,401,118 $4,043,637 -$357,481 $4,742,133 $341,015 Marion Dist. 2 $9,439,251 $8,557,047 -$882,204 $10,139,843 $700,593 Monmouth-Roseville $6,351,360 $6,006,671 -$344,690 $6,724,524 $373,164 Pekin Dist 303 $3,921,006 $3,431,197 -$489,809 $4,272,037 $351,031Pekin Dist 108 $8,939,813 $7,136,110 -$1,803,703 $8,762,885 -$176,928 Pontiac Dist. 429 $3,331,229 $3,058,294 -$272,934 $3,543,914 $212,686Pontiac Dist. 90 $2,491,163 $2,343,476 -$147,687 $2,687,508 $196,345 Source: State Board of Education

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